Kevin Klein

Making our community a better place

One of the best parts of my job is recognizing the many who live in the community for their outstanding work to make this a better place in which to live.

Allow me to highlight some of the recent achievements that deserve recognition.

First, I want to congratulate Carla Martinelli-Irvine and her team at the Winnipeg Pet Rescue. Their dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need is truly remarkable, and it was an honour to recognize them in Manitoba Legislature with a member’s statement last month. The organization has been instrumental in saving the lives of countless animals and providing them with a second chance at a happy life. Their work is a testament to the compassion and generosity of our community.

Second, I want to extend my congratulations to Brian Chrupalo for being inducted into the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council’s Hall of Fame. Brian’s contributions to football in our community and beyond have been remarkable. As well, his leadership and dedication to the community as an active police officer and Bear Clan member serve as an inspiration to all. His recognition is well-deserved.

Let’s all avoid spreading misinformation

Like many Manitobans, I am concerned that the unprofessional spreading of misinformation in the Legislature and on multiple social media platforms by opposition MLAs is hurting us all.

Thank you to the voters of Kirkfield Park

I want to thank all Kirkfield Park residents for the honour of representing this great community. In 2023 I am committed to working for you, being a strong voice for all Kirkfield Park residents, and working with you to improve our community. I will communicate openly, make decisions based on facts, put the needs of residents before my political objectives, and fight to strengthen our community and province.

It’s time to drill down into city spending

Well, here we go again, more allegations of financial mismanagement at the City of Winnipeg, this time in the public works department and specifically within the traffic signal branch.

Allegations suggest the city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, on make-work projects with no paper trail, inventory, or proper procedures.

You and I both know this is not an isolated issue in just one small department. It is a systemic problem throughout the city. Remember the inspector issue?

I must ask, how often do we have to learn about allegations of financial mismanagement in the media? It is embarrassing to elected officials. We are hired to be good stewards and ensure taxpayers money is not wasted. We are failing.

Blumberg deal is yard-sale economics

There are many questions surrounding the purpose of selling John Blumberg Golf Course, which is why I moved at the Jan. 17 meeting of the property and development, heritage, and downtown development committee to oppose the City of Winnipeg’s proposed sale of the golf course.

I’m pleased that the motion passed three to one, with support from councillors Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and Janice Lukes (Waverley West). However, two-thirds of council must support the recommendation for the decision to be final.

(I feel it’s important to pull the curtain back on my decision and provide you some details on plans for the land made public by the R.M. of Headingley. They are available on my personal website at www.kevinklein.ca)

It would appear there is a sense of desperation for this sale and many other taxpayer-owned assets. Why? It is because of a series of bad budget decisions? Are we now in a position where we are forced to accept a bad deal out desperation for money?

City adopts bird-friendly building standard

Many of you have probably experienced a bird striking your window at some point in your lives. Downtown, birds face a much bigger threat, as during the day they are unable to discern that clear or reflective glass is solid and at night they effectively become trapped by walls of light.

This risk also becomes much higher during bird migration periods. Mirrored glass is particularly dangerous for birds and illuminated buildings at night can also unintentionally attract night-migrating birds.

Canada is home to over 600 species of birds and these populations are considered to be increasingly threatened. Approximately 25 million birds are killed in Canada every year due to collisions with glass. Building design plays a key role in many, if not most of these deaths. Many major cities across Canada are already taking steps to reduce the risks by adopting the national bird-friendly building design standard established by the Canadian Standards Association.

The guideline provides a collection of urban design-based strategies for the creation of bird-friendly developments, buildings, and structures. It also offers suggestions for bird-friendly building operations which align with accepted sustainable design objectives.

City adopts bird-friendly building standard

Many of you have probably experienced a bird striking your window at some point in your lives.

Downtown, birds face a much bigger threat, as during the day they are unable to discern that clear or reflective glass is solid and at night they effectively become trapped by walls of light.

This risk also becomes much higher during bird migration periods. Mirrored glass is particularly dangerous for birds and illuminated buildings at night can also unintentionally attract night-migrating birds.

Canada is home to over 600 species of birds and these populations are considered to be increasingly threatened. Approximately 25 million birds are killed in Canada every year due to collisions with glass.

Greenspace improvements this summer

I have been speaking to many residents during my time as your representative and know how important green space is, so work has been planned, and in some cases started, to improve our many parks and green spaces in the communities of Charleswood–Tuxedo–Westwood.

You will notice new pickleball courts, playground upgrades, tree planting and new signage in many areas of our ward.

The following projects are planned for this spring and summer to provide some improvements to a park or green space near you:

• Kirkfield Westwood tennis court - The tennis court will be converted into two pickleball courts including asphalt and plexi-pave, new fencing, nets and a backless bench.

Transit Master Plan fails to move us forward

Why did I oppose the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan as it was presented?

Well, there are some significant financial questions not being answered. For example, the plan suggests building a pedestrian bridge which would only cost $15 million, which we know is not possible. The total investment is between $1 and $1.6 billion. Approval of this plan would max out the city’s credit ceiling. These are risks that I must consider, and there are more.

Here is a brief look at what the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan included: Bus radios; garage replacement; design studies for rapid transit routes; pedestrian bridges with varying costs; network infrastructure; and some electrification.

The plan calls for no additional buses. Even with the same city footprint (which we all know is growing) how can you have improved service and frequency without increasing buses? Page 82 of the plan states that in 25 years, the city will only have 13 more buses than it has today.

Transit Master Plan fails to move us forward

Why did I oppose the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan as it was presented?

Well, there are some significant financial questions not being answered. For example, the plan suggests building a pedestrian bridge which would only cost $15 million, which we know is not possible. The total investment is between $1 and $1.6 billion. Approval of this plan would max out the city’s credit ceiling. These are risks that I must consider, and there are more. Here is a brief look at what the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan included: Bus radios; garage replacement; design studies for rapid transit routes; pedestrian bridges with varying costs; network infrastructure; and some electrification.

The plan calls for no additional buses. Even with the same city footprint (which we all know is growing) how can you have improved service and frequency without increasing buses? Page 82 of the plan states that in 25 years, the city will only have 13 more buses than it has today. You may not have known that the mayor and his executive policy committee councillors supported a reduction of 68 bus replacements in the March 2020 multi-year budget

The Transit Master Plan is sold as a much-needed big plan but it seems no more thana showpiece. I don’t believe it is addressing some of the real issues  - only funnelling money to consultants and contractors.

100 years of women on Winnipeg city council

In March, we marked International Women’s Day and challenged ourselves to achieving an equal future.

In many ways, the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted gaps that we need to close together as quickly as possible. As we see the ways in which COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women economically, we should realize how important it is to take intentional actions supporting women. Appropriately, this year the United Nations declared the theme for International Women’s Day to be Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

I’d like to recognize and thank the women who have been elected to public office and are leading in government at all levels, as well as the many female community leaders committed to making a difference. 

On March 8, a City Hall display celebrating a century of women in Winnipeg civic government was unveiled. This project was led by Coun. Devi Sharma  (Old Kildonan), who is also the speaker of city council, and I appreciate her taking the time to put together this important initiative. History highlights the growth we’ve made in increasing representation and diversity, but we are far behind where we should be.

100 years of women on Winnipeg city council

In March, we marked International Women’s Day and challenged ourselves to achieving an equal future.

In many ways, the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted gaps that we need to close together as quickly as possible. As we see the ways in which COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women economically, we should realize how important it is to take intentional actions supporting women. Appropriately, this year the United Nations declared the theme for International Women’s Day to be Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

I’d like to recognize and thank the women who have been elected to public office and are leading in government at all levels, as well as the many women community leaders committed to making a difference.  

On March 8, a City Hall display celebrating a century of women in Winnipeg civic government was unveiled. This project was led by Coun. Devi Sharma  (Old Kildonan), who is also the speaker of city council, and I appreciate her taking the time to put together this important initiative. History highlights the growth we’ve made in increasing representation and diversity, but we are far behind where we should be.

Happy to improve and support our parks

A commitment I made during the civic election campaign two years ago was to ensure we allocated ward allowances to improve and enhance our community parks.

I’m very proud that with the help of residents and our team at the City of Winnipeg Parks, we have completed several park upgrades in 2020 and have allocated over $250,000 through various project grants and programs.

Park upgrades completed this summer include:

• Bannatyne Grove, which received a new basketball hoop centred on the pad and had lines painted;

Honouring our young leaders

Young people are our future. We will turn to them to take care of us, and work to make our city a better place for all. That’s why I believe it is extremely important to support and acknowledge the young leaders in our community.

Each year I have the honour, on behalf of the residents of Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood, to award young women and men a leadershipgrant.

This year we recognized the following students for outstanding community service and leadership:

• Ashton Olin of Oak Park High School;

Riverbank cleanup a success

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who joined us in our community riverbank cleanup on Fri., May 1.

After a phone call from a resident on Tuesday, we were able to organize this clean-up up in just three days with help from the community and our new ward liaison, Imran.

A special thank you goes to the manager of Brady Road Resource Management facility, who wasted no time in helping our group by waiving the dumping fees. He even offered to come help when his shift was over.

A City of Winnipeg crew came to help collect larger items, and Charleswood resident Kevin McConnell, who owns McConnell Electric, called the owner of Hart Roofing to borrow their large trailer so he could pick up over 50 bags of garbage, along with some of the most interesting items found that day. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the people who supported us by honking their horns as they drove by.

Riverbank cleanup a success

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who joined us in our community riverbank cleanup on Fri.,  May 1.

After a phone call from a resident on Tuesday, we were able to organize this clean-up up in just three days with help from the community and our new ward liaison, Imran.

A special thank you goes to the manager of Brady Road Resource Management facility, who wasted no time in helping our group by waiving the dumping fees. He even offered to come help when his shift was over.

A City of Winnipeg crew came to help collect larger items, and Charleswood resident Kevin McConnell, who owns McConnell Electric, called the owner of Hart Roofing to borrow their large trailer so he could pick up over 50 bags of garbage, along with some of the most interesting items found that day. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the people who supported us by honking their horns as they drove by.